The cultural and environmental association “Spasmeno Rodi (The Broken Pomegranate)” has been instituted in September 2007. The aim of the association is to emphasize the role of the local culture’s representatives and their substantially intervening presence in the cultural and environment matters, as the association’s motto is “ambience as a permanent source of energy and inspiration”. The association’s seat is in Zachos’ mansion, in the historical zone of the city named Doltsos, where are situate most of the well-preserved historical mansions of the city. The association’s manifestations usually take place there, inside the building or in the courtyard.
“IL MANDRAGOLA” by Nicolo Machiavelli
An herb with magic properties or an intrigue implement? The aim justifies the way: the persisting principle of the Machiavellian philosophy dominates the play. “Il Mandragola” (The Mandragora) is a crude comedy that, although it had been written in the beginning of the 16th century, is still enjoyably contemporaneous having as its absolute protagonist the proverbial “middle class man” and theatrically formed according to the Commedia dell’ Arte doctrine. Machiavelli -in his sharp satiric way- comments the social life in Florence in the 15th century (we have transported the action in Kastoria and in actual time), the abuse of power by politicians and clergymen and –mainly- the slyness, the cupidity and the amorality of the middle class bourgeois. Because the language used in the original text is based on dialectical idioms we choose to translate certain expressions in the local kastorian dialect. The play goes though to the “bone”, although that at a first and easiest estimation could be considered as a typical “comedy of misunderstandings”, nearly a vulgar imitation of the Attic Comedy.
DURATION: 85 min
CAST: Theatre direction, translation and training: Tania Kitsou Music: Lemonostifel Actors/esses: Ioannis Illiadis, Theodota Kotopoulou, Efi Trascia, Eleni Tsadila, Ioannis Tsotsos Lights/ artistic direction: Tania Kitsou Costumes : Eleni Tsadila
